Adam Gidwitz’ book is the story of how Hansel & Gretel escape their own dark fairy tale, only to end up in eight other strange adventures. Along the way, they’re beheaded (and re-headed), dismembered, hunted, killed, brought back to life, sent to hell, and a number of other terrible fates en route to their happily ever after. Yup, sounds like something Selick could do well.

“I remain completely enraptured by Adam Gidwitz’ marvellous book A Tale Dark & Grimm,” Selick says in a statement ferretted out by the trade magazine. “It’s a hilarious, deeply inventive tale about survival in the world of fairy tales and what it takes to forgive one’s parents. So it’s a huge thrill to be joining the team of Kamala Films and FilmNation as the director of the film based on it. Between the great material and a team that really gets it, I hope to make something really special that lasts.”

Selick has written the script with John W. Mann and Jon Gunn, and Kamala Films is on board to develop the project. There’s no word yet on when it’ll make it to our screens. The director is still at work on his aforementioned new animated pic, The Shadow King, which has yet to set a release date.